Elementary/Early Childhood Education

Do you enjoy working with young children as they begin the most incredible learning period in their lives? You may want to consider certification in early childhood/elementary education. This dual-certification program for those aspiring to teach young children prepares teacher education students to teach in elementary grades 1-6, as well as preparing teacher candidates for the early childhood years (birth through kindergarten). Maryville University St. Louis’ candidates are prepared specifically to help young children to learn to read, write, compute, think and learn citizenship through the Project Construct curriculum, numerous planned field experiences and university coursework. Faculty and teacher education students spend extensive time in partner elementary schools. Strong liberal arts preparation helps teacher education students work from their own grounding in their subject matter. Due to the need to prepare for two certifications, this program requires 138 credit hours of coursework.

Program Features

Field Experiences
Maryville has more extensive and intensive school placements than any other university, supervised by Maryville faculty, providing you many opportunities to see and practice the techniques you learn in classes. Well-established relationships with “partner” schools throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area allow you to work under the close supervision of Maryville professors and your cooperating teachers from partner schools, recording your experiences and developing your philosophy of teaching. Early childhood in particular has a long history of partnering with area schools and was responsible for establishing the St. Louis early childhood magnet school program. All preservice teacher education programs are highly grounded in multiple, long-term field experiences in the public schools. View timeline of field experience possibilities.

For more information contact: Penny Greene, School of Education at 314.529.9581 or by email at pgreene@maryville.edu.

Preparation for the Changing World of SchoolsMaryville’s School of Education is committed to preparing you to be a reflective teacher who is committed to the moral endeavor of schooling in a democracy. We’ll prepare you for teaching in urban, suburban and rural settings, and give you exposure to different cultures through field placements and assignments like the Street Project – for which we won the 2004 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education. As a sophomore, you’ll work with classmates in a comprehensive study of one of the streets in St. Louis as a way to better understand the culture and backgrounds of your prospective students. It’s an impressive project that is sure to engage you with your peers and St. Louis’ schools and communities. You’ll learn to teach in a way that allows all students access to knowledge.

Elementary/Early Childhood Bridge ProgramGiven the intensity of preparing for two certifications within a 4-year bachelor’s degree (requiring 138 credit hours), Maryville provides a bridge program option in an integrated 5-year program (requiring 157 credit hours of coursework). Maryville’s 3/2 Program with B.A. and M.A. Ed. Degree lets you complete a B.A. in elementary education with all the required components of the M.A. in Early Childhood Education. This bridge program provides additional experiences and the time to ensure students will be specialists in early childhood upon receiving the masters. Graduate level work is included in the fourth and fifth years of study.

Professional/Career Opportunities

Excellent teachers are always in demand. More than ever before, the country needs classroom teachers who are bright, articulate, dedicated to working with children and dedicated to helping children learn about their role in preserving our American democracy. Our graduates stay in teaching significantly longer than average. A recent review found 75 percent of our graduates from the classes of 1999 to 2002 still teaching. We also boast a placement rate of 90 percent - thanks in part to our annual career fair, where there are often more recruiters than there are students.

Maryville is known for preparing teachers well and for ensuring that they will continue to prepare for their roles throughout their lives as they continue to learn and reflect on their practice. Because of the faculty’s extensive connections with the K-12 schools, Maryville students receive excellent opportunities for employment. Maryville graduates are highly sought after by area school districts both at the bachelors and masters levels.

Degree Offerings and Requirements

Admission Requirements

As a new student, you will first be accepted to pre-education and will be able to enroll in EDUC 100, Introduction to Schooling. If you have a 2.70 cumulative grade point average, you’ll be eligible to enroll in the first block of professional education courses (EDUC 200, 201 and 309) the first semester of your sophomore year. During this semester (or for transfers their first semester at Maryville), you must submit a formal application for admission to teacher education. To be eligible for admission, you must have a 2.70 cumulative GPA, a 3.0 average in professional education coursework, a satisfactory practicum evaluation and pass the CBASE standardized test. We also require an annual criminal background check and TB screening.

Maryville University: Top Over-performing School in the National Universities Rankings

What does it mean to LiveMaryville?

LiveMaryville emphasizes that Maryville University is more than just a classroom, dorm room, library or athletic center. It’s a way of life.

Campus is a safe place, offering a close-knit, nurturing environment.

Class sizes are small so learning is enhanced and personal attention is the norm.

Staff and faculty are true mentors – they know students’ names as well as their life goals.

LiveMaryville is also a state of mind.

Our shared experience reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves.

Here, we belong to a community that speaks to our greater sense of self and makes us better lifelong learners.

With all that a Maryville University education embodies, more than 94 percent of our graduates say they would strongly recommend Maryville to a sibling, neighbor or close friend. We hope you’ll make a special connection, too, and that you truly LiveMaryville.